Jesus keeping of commandment:

Jesus would latter teach fasting essential to the exorcism of certain demons kjv@Matthew:17:21

Jesus keeping of faith:

There is a time and a place and a reason for fasting. While He was there in the role that He was serving this was neither, it was a time for devoting our attentions to a bridegroom. Because they knew neither Jesus nor the time at hand they knew not to shower Him with honor and attention.

This is one of the first of many clues that Jesus would be taken. His disciples will soon have ample reason to fast and it will be appropriate.

The old way is about routine, ritual and scheduled observance manufacturing a form of humility as mandated by oral and national tradition. The new way is about all Jesus, it is in response to Him and the work He is performing upon us. Mixing the two is like patching cloth rather than a whole new cloth or mixing wine in an old sack rather than letting each vintage be contained in it's own vessel.

Jesus' patience:

It does not say that Jesus is yet doing away with either garment or vintage, only that they should not be mixed. It is almost for the sake old that the new is being separated.

Notes:

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

Religious observance is easily drawn away from it's truer intent and purpose. It becomes ritual and mandate. It becomes the measuring stick rather the immeasurable outflow. It becomes detached from the honesty and sincerity of a contrite heart towards it's maker.

There are hundreds of things we do that may have root in scripture that have been stretched and pulled into something resembling religion. What is supposed to lift souls up instead weighs souls down. It is these religious gestures often that separate us into denominations and factions.

Could it not be said that we are more attuned to the gestures than to the reasons for them observed from above?